Online version of DAFNE?

Hello,

I'm a Type 1 diabetic, currently on Levemir (basal) and Novorapid (bolus). I'm aged 42, and have been a diabetic for 38 years.

Due to a period of having my diabetes monitored by my (expert) GP (2001-2009), and then living outside of the UK (2010-2013), I've never actually undertaken DAFNE. However, I've been dose adjusting for years. Having returned to live in the UK last year, my diabetes is now expertly monitored at my local hospital, and my treatment regime has been updated slightly.

I am now being encouraged to undertake the DAFNE course. However, since I am currently in a temporary work, I am pushing back against the requests. My concern is that I cannot justify losing three or four days pay, and I do not believe that the benefit I will gain from the additional knowledge provided by the DAFNE course is sufficient to put my employment at risk.

I am doing a reasonable job of managing the dose adjustments. Although my most recent A1c result is higher than my specialist would like it to be, this is mainly because I am adjusting to an updated treatment regime following advice from the Diabetic nurse adviser.

My question (after the long introduction!) is: Is there an online version of DAFNE I can take? If not, why not?

Thanks for your input.

First of all no there is currently not an online version of the course, why not ? because it involves changes to your insulin regime ( some quite radical changes for some) that are not necessarily safe to try at home. Yes some people could manage it at home, but many could not and how do you decide which are which ? My guess is this is why they don't do an online version. It is also about more than just carb counting
There have been a number of trials of a 5 x 1 version of the course recently and your 'local' centre might be running one of these. This would mean doing the course over 5 weeks that may be slightly easier for you to undertake. You can always contact my via the 'message' system on the site and I can find out if there is such a course in your area.
I too was dose adjusting before the course but there is more to it than that as I said.

I thought I was dose adjusting 'fine' before DAFNE but it was a real eye opener in terms of bad habits I'd picked up based on little evidence or understanding. (10 years since I passed my driving test I know I don't drive to test standard now even though I think I know all the principles!). It is more than just carb counting - but it is hard to tell from your post whether you already know more than carb counting, or just the carb counting side.

If you really are unable to take the time off work, and feel you have the skills to self do it, then the book "Think like a pancreas" by Gary Schiener might be good for you (it is American so you'll have to do conversions on his blood scores). DAFNE will give you the formula to use, that book as well as DAFNE will give you the understanding of why the formula work. After reading the book you'll know how much extra you do or don't need to know and whether it is worth doing DAFNE to get the magical formula.

Don't forget that most hospitals will write to employers explaining the benefits to them of you doing DAFNE (better control therefore both better productivity and less sickness) and an increasing amount of employers will offer it as either sick leave, or paid leave as ultimately it is still medical 'treatment' (or disability treatment if you want to play that card) and not just you going on a jolly for a week. Obviously this is harder for you with temporary work and some employers or agencies are less understanding, but it might still be worth asking them the question.

I've been diabetic for 40 years (since I was 4 years old), have been self-adjusting for 25+ years, and I'm also a pharmacist so have always been quite confident that I've been managing my Diabetes as well as possible.
I did a DAFNE course a couple of months ago, and it has completely revolutionised how I manage and think about my Diabetes. I've lost weight, feel better, and have lower blood glucose, even though I'm injecting less insulin!
I can't recommend DAFNE highly enough. I was sceptical that I could learn anything new, but it's the best thing I ever did. Wish I'd done it years ago.

Tough call, though I'm wondering why you've not got the option of paid holiday?
It's very worth doing IMO as well. I hope something can be worked out. All the best.

Hi Andrewarts,
I sympathise with your situation. I was sceptical of the value of DAFNE since I had been carbohydrate counting and making my own adjustments since 1967. However after retiring in 2012 I finally felt I could afford the time to attend the course. I certainly found it helpful to meet others who were managing type 1 diabetes and despite my own personal knowlege and knowlege from books and medical journals I learned much from the course. One thing which impressed me was how different we all are and that something which works for one person will not necessarily be guaranteed to work for someone else. I found discussions of how to adjust for exercise particularly helpful. I do hope you are able to find a suitable solution to enable you to benefit from DAFNE. Best wishes !